Aprons



K. M! MURPHY Oct. 6, 1959 APRONS I Filed Aug. 15, 1957 \iiik. 0 152-151 United States 1,967,042 APRONS Katherine lvlfli llirphy, Yonkerg NlY.

ApplicationAugust-=15, 1957, Serial No. 678,387 2 Claims. (eta-=48 This invention relates to aprons, and in particular to aprons which areprovided with a bib portion.

The customary method of supporting the bib of an apron is 'by 'means-of-a-halter passing around'the-neck, or-else an elaborate arrangement of straps passing from the bib to the waist at the rear. Both forms have disadvantages, whether the apron is worn as a protective device -'for heavy dirty tasks, or where-it is almost purely ornamental, as, for instance, in the case of an apron worn by a housewife while serving as a hostess. The constant chafing of a halter when the wearer of an apron is engaged in heavy dirty work results in irritation of the neck. Even light ornamental aprons worn by housewives disarrange the hair when put on or off.

Attempts have been made to provide aprons which have a bib supported by boning or wires when worn. However, such garments have followed, for the most part, the lines of so-called backless, strapless gowns, in that the boning is used in a manner to require that the top part of the garment have an elaborate construction, and in particular, side pieces extending around the body above the waist. Such side .pieces are of little protective value and are confining and cause wrinkling of the clothing over which the apron is worn. It has been found, however, that unless such side pieces are supplemented with material extending around the body above the waist, aprons of that construction will not remain in place if the wearer stoops or sits.

In view of the deficiencies present in aprons now available, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a garment having a bib which will remain in place regardless of the posture of the wearer, without the necessity of a halter or any body-encircling parts above the waist.

Referring now to the drawings, two forms of apron are shown, for the purpose of illustrating the types of construction preferred with different materials:

Fig. 1 is a showing of one form of apron, cut and ready to be sewn;

Fig. 2 is a showing of the apron of Fig. 1, in a further state of completion, with indications of the steps to follow in completion of the apron;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the apron of Figs. 1 and 2, showing it in the position it takes when worn; and,

Fig. 4 is a partially completed apron made of a different material from that of Figs. 1 to 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on'line 55 of Fig. 3.

Referring specifically to Figs. 1 to 3, the apron delineated therein is of a construction suitable for manufacture of heavy material having considerable body, such as duck, canvas, denim, ticking or the like. The construction has also been successfully made of the material used for automobile seat covers, which is a woven synthetic material of considerable stifiness. All of the mentioned materials possess a degree of stiffness which is desirable for certain portions of the garment, as will presently appear.

The rectangle is of a width sufficient for the apron fully explained later.

skirt, and the length is sufficient for ,the length of the bib plus theskirt. Cuts -11 are made atthe position desired for-the waist. The top flaps are then folded inwardly, to form side portions 12 of two or more thicknesses. Whaleboning 13may be inserted at the'time of folding, between the'layers of material but extending downwardly belowthe multiple thickness as will be more If preferred, however, the whaleboning can be secured by sewing through its covering to the already sewn apron, either lying directly on the multiple thickness or abutting it closely. If desired, of course, a long strip of material can be provided, forming a pocket for the reception of the boning.

Following this, darts are made on the margins of the bib. The top darts 14 are preferably made near the Whaleboning 13 and-the side darts 15 are in-aboutthe position indicated. After binding or other finishing operations'on'the edges of the apron, and attachment of strings or tapes the'apron is complete.

The construction described, when applied to theperson, takes the configuration shown in Fig.' 3. There is nothing particularly critical about the exact dimensions "employed, but there arecertain principles-of construction which should be followed. As an example, it has been found that the Whaleboning must be parallel before the top darts are made, and preferably separated from each other enough to lie outside of the center of each bust of the wearer. On a woman wearing a size 12 dress, the boning should be about nine inches apart, the entire bib having a width of about twelve inches. Such an apron extends somewhat around the torso. A bib nine inches high is satisfactory for such a size person.

It will be noted in Figs. 2 and 3 that the Whaleboning extends below the waist of the apron. Such extension is essential to make the apron bib remain upright. The extension need not be very long, about three inches being suflicient. This is short enough to permit the wearer to sit down, and long enough to hold the bib in place. If a fairly heavy and stiff material is used for the apron, the Whaleboning is simply the commercial product, about a foot long, secured as described. On the other hand, if material such as denim is employed which is not so stiff, the constant bending to which the lower section of whaleboning is subjected requires that a more durable material be employed at that place. Accordingly, stays 16, about five inches long, made of metal or a plastic material may be employed as a supplement to the lower portion of the Whaleboning. It is to be understood that without stays the apron is operative, but lacking in practical durability, unless the material of which the apron is fashioned is stiff and heavy enough to protect the Whaleboning from excessive bending. These stays can be secured in any desired way to the Whaleboning or to the apron in the position indicated. It would be possible to substitute a long stay for all of the Whaleboning, except that such is so stifi as to be uncomfortable to wear and does not yield when the wearer stoops or bends, and the apron thus tends to ride up somewhat.

Referring now to Fig. 4, an illustration is given of an apron which can be constructed of light weight materials, mostly for decoration but ofiering some protection. Each material chosen requires somewhat of a modification of construction, but only in a very general, easily understood way. If the material is characterized by flimsiness, the apron shown in Fig. 4 can be successfully made. The bib panel 20 may be of any material desired, as may be the side margins 21 and the top margin 22. However, the side margins, and, in the case of extremely flimsy materials, the top margin also are stiifened with any suitable permanent stiffening, which can be readily inserted by the maker when the margins are doubled over, the stiffening then coming between two layers of The skirt portion of the apron may be given any treatment desired, to improve its attractiveness, except that there can be no gathering above the dot and dash line 25. The portion of the apron above that line and between the whaleboning must be of straight material, al-

though of course it is to be understood that ruifies or if a gathered piece of matereial could be overlaid the portion of the skirt which is above described as straight.

I claim:

1. An apron having a bib and skirt covering portion the said bib having generally straight parallel side edges 1 and a transversely extending upper edge, a plurality of darts extending inwardly from each of the said side edges 20 so as to how the said bib at the marginal portions along a transverse line, a plurality of darts formed along the upper edge portion so as to bow the garment along the longitudinal dimension, a pair of resilient stifiening elements attached to the sides of the said bib along lines spaced inwardly of the darts and extending from substantially the top edge to a point in the apron below the waistline. -r

2. A garment comprising a bib. element adapted to cover the upper body portion of a wearer and having generally straight parallel side edges and a transversely extending upper edge, the said bib having a lower extension adapted to extend across the waistline of the wearer, a plurality of darts extending inwardly from each of the said side edges so as to bow the said bib at the marginal portions along a transverse .line, a plurality of darts formed along the upper edge portion so as to bow the garment along the longitudinal dimension, a pair of resilient stiffening elements attached to the sides of the said bib along lines spaced inwardly of the darts and extending from substantially the top edge to a point in the said extension below the waistline.

References Cited in the tile ofsthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

